“Unlock the Possibilities: Sideload Apps on Your Mobile Device”

Sideloading apps has been a really active topic in the newssphere lately, and there are good and bad reasons for that. Google has always guaranteed sideloading of apps for Android users to enjoy the freedom of the open source platform, while Apple has refused to sign on to this method for reasons the company has explained several times.

So what exactly is app sideloading, how does it work, and why have the CEOs of Google and Apple banned their users from doing it on their phones? Here’s a detailed paragraph on how and why.

Sideloading Apps: What Is It?

Sideloading is basically a method that allows you to install apps on devices that have not been approved by the publisher, in this case Google, which has a Play Store for Android devices. You can install apps from third-party websites that provide APKs that can be downloaded to a smartphone and then installed using a file. Android users have used this feature to install all apps for many years, and Google has had no influence on how this was done and where apps were installed. Developers like Epic Games have offered popular games like Fortnite through their website to Android users.

Why are Google and Apple’s CEO against sideloading?

Apple has always been known for being a walled garden, and the company has restricted access to third-party app stores and denied permission to download apps from the site. The company has repeatedly pointed out that sideloading apps can be risky because the publisher, in this case Apple, cannot have any control over which apps are installed, and it is possible that some of these apps may be unsafe to use on the device. Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently testified in the Google vs Epic Games case in the US where he pointed out that people should not download apps from the site.

As you may know, Google and Apple charge a fee to developers who host their apps on Play Store and App Store. Many developers have criticized the companies for this fee, which is why there are several antitrust cases against both Google and Apple around the world.

Google’s change of heart in this regard suggests that the company doesn’t want people to install apps from other app stores, claiming it’s a security risk, but it could also be a tactic to prevent people from using other platforms to install apps instead of Play. A trade that affects its ability to earn revenue.

Sideloading Apps: Is It Safe?

Experts have pointed out that sideloading apps, especially through unknown sources, can be dangerous because they can be malicious. However, Google can’t stop users from doing so if they think it’s the best way to use some apps that aren’t available on the Play Store. Apple believes that sideloading iOS could make it less secure, which may be true, but that doesn’t mean the company can’t figure out a way to keep its users safe from such activities.